Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-12-09

SLOro w 0lcn was Got Drought IOr-
ward and reviewed with reference to
its fitness as Christmas gift for the
baby, and great was the disappoint-
ment of jamie when his battered tin
soldier was rejected as unfit for SER
vice, and of mamie when her dear,
one eyed, one-armed, shrunken Bet
sey was pronounced too old and in
firm.
But there really ought to be q
d, | on that tree" said Reba "Who
ever saw a Christmas tree without q
doll"
A way of supplying the deficiency
occurred to her. and she went to hold
a conference with her mother. why
couldn't we send that doll that we
have dressed for Mamie? She will
have so many other things tomorrow
that she will Dever miss it, and we
can get her another afterwards"
Mrs Krlburu hesitated. '1t was
bought for Mamie" che said, and it
we ought not to give it away with
out her consent"
"I'm sure she would be willing, +"
said Reba. She considered a min
ute; then with glowing face went
out to her little sister and drew her
into her arms. mamie DEAR" she
said earnestly, "if YOU knew Santa
claus would have a dolly in his pack
when he comes this way tonight, a
dolly with curly hair and black eyes
and red cheeks, would you want him
to give it to you or that baby in the
wagonW
Mamie opened her brown eyes a
little wider than usual and looked at
her sister without speaking. 1t was
not easy to say all at once that the
stranger child and not herself should
be the recipient of that blooming
crature.
Reba saw the look of hesitation
and went on still more earnestly:
Would you hold out your hands
and say Give it to me! Give it to
me!' or would you say oh, dear Mr..
SaCta Claus, please give it to that
poor little girl in the wagon that
hasn't got any papa nor any nice
home nor any pretty things to play
with. Please put it right on the top
of her little green tree. Which
would you, Nam e?"
The tears spraug into Reba's eyes
as she made the imagined appeal and
flashed instantly responsive in the
little sis4er's. Eyes, that is what l
would say" cried the child, clasping
her hands Those are the very
words | would tell him."
Perhaps it was well chat the child's
un selfish choice was not tested by an
actual sight of the doll ia question.
1t was slipped quietly ioto the basket
when the children's eager eyes had
ceased to scan its contents.
But all was not ready even now.
1--WE must make that tree look just
as pretty as if it were for ourselves" +"
cried Reba, and at her suggestion the
children fell to stringing popcorn
and cranberries, while she produced
her store of tissue paper flowers and
made bunch of crimson roses fresh
for the occasion The mother gave
an assisting touch here and there; ;theu,
bethinking hershlt that no Christmas
tree could he complete without some
dangling store of sweetmeats among
it's branches, she made a number of
tiny bags and horns which she filled
with nuts, raisins and Jumps of maple
sugar.
Amid these busy blessed doings
the twilight hour faded away; and q
great yellow moon had risen above
the level horizon when Tom Kilburn
started ont again in the direction of
the campers.
This time he went on foot, accom-.
panied by Reba, who had begged to
share the delight of the expedition.
IL was still and clear, mild as night
in late October. Under the flooding
moon light the bare, brown plains
took on a golden tint and the high,
white crests Of the mountains glisten-
ed like silver A quietDess stole
upon Tom and Reba, and they had
grown quite silent when, after n
halt hours walk across the fields. they
reached the hollow at the bend of the
creek which the travellers had chosen
as their camp.
A half-circle Of gray powders shut
out the white.covcred wagon till they
were close upon it. There it stood,
whittier than before in the moonlight,
but giving no sign of life. Only the
mules, cropping grass at q little dis.
tance, stirred at their approach; lift
ing their heads they eyed their visi-
tors with looks of wonder.
Tom stepped boldly up to the
wagon and lifted the curtain which
hung loosely at the front. "Hullo," !"
he said in somewhat suppressed
voice; for it had been agreed between
him and Reba that if the child were
asleep thsy should not wake her.
There was no response. "Hullo,"
Tom little louder. Still
silence reigned in the wagon.
Tom dropped the curtain and turn
ed to his sister. "Reba." he whis-
pered in great excitement, "they're
all asleep. oil three of 'em in the back
of the wagon. But the tree is stand
ing right here at the front Do you
suppose we could get the things on
and not rouse 'emr'
Reba clasped her hands in an &C.
stasy. "If We only could" she ans
wered in q palpitating whisper.
You'd better hand up the things and
I'll pat 'em on. | can do it quicker
than you"
Tom concluded that his SISTERS
suggestion was wise one With
one hand he held away the curtain
and with the other lifted the contents
of the basket, while keba, standing
upon the tongue leaned for
ward and placed the gifts, one by
one, upon the tree.
Surely Santa Claus himself never
executed u task requiring greater
speed and stealth.
But Reba was equal to 1t. Only
a slight rustling Of the green brsn-
ches betrayed the swift movements
Of her hands as she wound the pop.
corn wreath in and out among the
boughs, entwined the crimson flow
era and found Nesting places for the